Worldspan travel agency subscribers in
the United States and Canada have gained preferred access to the advanced
BookingBuilder(TM) Desktop for shopping and booking travel products from
travel supplier Web sites. Global travel technology provider Worldspan,
L.P. and BookingBuilder Technologies jointly announced the new subscriber
services agreement today.
  “By working together, Worldspan and BookingBuilder Technologies are
ensuring that Worldspan agencies have instant, integrated access to content
from a growing number of supplier Web sites,” said Seth Perelman, chief
executive officer of BookingBuilder Technologies. “BookingBuilder offers a
secure interface to the sites of low-cost airlines around the world,
including the most complete Southwest Airlines access available, several
European airlines and many small airlines, and other non-GDS content.”
  “Worldspan is committed to providing our agencies with comprehensive
access to content,” said Kathy Fitzpatrick, Worldspan vice president -
North America Sales and Worldwide Travel Supplier Solutions. “This
technology enables new functionability between the Worldspan GDS and the
suppliers’ host systems.”
  “We continue to rely heavily on BookingBuilder for access to Southwest
and several European low-cost carriers that do not distribute through other
channels,” said A&I Travel Service President Rebecca Martin, CTC, CTIE.
“It’s a valuable resource that complements the global supplier access we
receive through the Worldspan GDS.”
  The preferred services agreement between Worldspan and BookingBuilder
breaks new ground in making non-GDS content accessible to the agency
community. Previously, products like this have required payment
commitments. Under the new agreement, BookingBuilder Desktop will be
available to Worldspan agencies for a small transaction fee, with no
monthly fees or usage commitments. “This means that agencies that have been
reluctant to make long- term financial commitments will now have access to
the tools and content they need,” said Fitzpatrick. Existing customers will
have the option to stay with their current pricing or switch to the new
model.
  The BookingBuilder Desktop is fully synchronized with the Worldspan GDS
and takes the time and complexity out of searching and creating bookings on
supplier Web sites. The software is intuitive and completely automates the
shopping and booking process for travel agents. In addition to notifying
agents which suppliers serve a specific market, BookingBuilder
automatically opens a supplier’s Web site, enters a travel agent’s search
request and populates fields with traveler profile data when the agent is
ready to book. The software also places booking confirmation details into
the Worldspan GDS. Worldspan travel agencies can sign up with
BookingBuilder through a link in the Worldspan Go!(R) Resource Center,
download the BookingBuilder Desktop software in less than three minutes and
learn to use it in one brief online training session.

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